Draft connection for car-couplings



R. E. L. JANNEY. DRAFTCONNECTION FOR CAR COUPLINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1919- Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

R. E L. JANNEY.

DRAFT CONNECTION FOR CAR COUPLINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. I919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Patentd Jan. 11,1921.

' same ROBERT E. L. JANNEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRAFT CONNECTION FOR CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Application filed March 11, 1919. Serial No. 282.025.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. L. J ANNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Draft Connections for Car- (ouplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to draft connections for car couplers, z. e. the connection between the shank of a car coupler and a draft rigging yoke, and the prime object of the invention is to increase the strength of such draft connections in a very simple and eflicientmanner and without materially changing the yoke and shank and to relieve the undue strains to which a yoke using a horizontal key is subjected, such yokes being usually held more or less rigidly against lateral and vertical play. and also twisting movements, all of which strains are avoided in .the present improved connection between the yoke andthe coupler. In this connection it is proposed to simplify the construc tion of the yoke so that it may be made of wrought metal and at a less cost than the commonly employed form of cast yoke of the box type which is provided with forwardly extending wings provided with openings for the horizontal draft key. Moreover it is proposed to construct the yoke so as to permit of the use of a vertical draft key. which may be applied and removed through the bottom of the yoke. A further object of the invention is to place the draft strains in a direct. line with the yoke straps, and also to place the vertically disposed draft key under direct shear as distinguished from prior draft connections wherein the draft keys are subject to bending strains.

The yoke part of the present invention is of the familiar U-shaped type and without integral connections between the forward ends of the arms of the yoke, and provision is made for preventing spreading of the arms under draft strains, said means also serving to support the vertical draft key and to permit application and removal of the key without necessitating the displacement of the draft gear.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for increased travel of the draft gear without necessarily increasing the length of the coupler shank, while at the time maintaining the necessary strength of the shank and other parts of the connection.

lVith these and other objects in view. the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it of course being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details may be made, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings: I Figure l is a top plan view of a draft connection embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is' a cross sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

' Fig.3 is a plan view of the blank from which the reinforcing band is formed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of one end of the blank with parts bent out therefrom. v

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the inner face of the forward end of one arm of the yoke.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the butt end of the coupler shank.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the invention applied to a liner block type of coupler shank.

Fig. 8 is aside elevation of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation ofa draft con;

nection of the present invention including a modified form of band.

line 1010 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a plan view of'the band'shown in Fig. 9. v

Fig. 12 is an edge elevation of Fig. 11 with parts bent out therefrom.

Fig. 13 is adetail fragmentary sectional view taken horizontally through the butt portion of a standard coupler shank. having the usual horizontal opening for a draft key and also provided with the coupler shank feature .of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings, the coupler shank is designated A, the yoke B, the draft key C and the reinforcing band E.

\Vherever the term draft key is employed in the present specification and claims, I

Fig-l0 is a cross sectional view on the,

which is substantially oblong in cross-seation with the major axis of said cross-section disposed longitudinally of the coupler shank, as distinguished from rivets and pivot pins of circular cross-section.

The yoke B is of wrought metal and is bent into substantially U-shape, as best shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. The forward extremities 1 of the arms of the yoke are upset so as form thickened portions to give the necessary strength to the end portions of the yoke arm. The outer face of each arm is flush throughout its length, and the upset metal is located at the inner face of each arm so as to provide a boss at the inner side of the arm. The face of each boss is flush throughout its length and width, and may be proi'ided with cavities or recesses 2 so as to reduce to the minimum the amount of upsetting necessary to provide the desired boss. A keyway or opening 4 is formed centrally through the boss portion of each arm of the yoke and is of a shape and size to receive the draft key C. It will of course be understood that the keyway or opening 4 is formed at the time of upsetting the end of the yoke, and the metal which is displaced to form the opening 4 goes into the boss 1 whereby the cross section of the front end portion of each arm through the keyway is at least equal to that of the arm.

A suitable filler 5 is provided within the closed end of the yoke and is held in place in any suitable manner, as for instance by being spot welded. The connection between the filler and the yoke is merely to prevent lateral displacement of the filler, as the filler is not subjected to strains tending to separate it and the yoke longitudinally thereof. As best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that each thickened end portion of the yoke is laterally enlarged, and the upright edges of the enlarged end are beveled or inclined as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, for a purpose as will be hereinafter explained.

As best illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings, it will be noted that the top and bottom faces of the coupler shank A are straight from end to end of the shank, and a keyway or opening 7 is formed vertically through the butt portion of the shank, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and is in aline- 'ment with the openings 4 in the arms of the yoke so as to receive the draft key C. The top of the coupler shank is provided with a boss 8 surrounding the keyway 7 and extending from the front of the keyway to the rear end of the shank. As best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the front portion of the boss is in the form of an upstanding flange extending around the keyway 7, while that portion of the boss which is in rear of the keyway is continuous from side to side and has its face substantially parallel with the adjacent face of the cou ler shank. Moreover the rear portion of t e boss extends the full width of the butt end of the coupler shank in order to obtain a broad bearing between the yoke and coupler butt. From a point slightly in front of the rear of the keyway 7, the flange portion of the boss is beveled or inclined forwardly toward the adjacent face of the coupler shank for a purpose as will be hereinafter described. The bottom of the butt portion of the shank is provided with a boss 9 which surrounds the keyway 7 and is substantially similar to the boss 8, except that the beveled or inclined face of the boss is at the rear thereof and inclines rearwardly toward the bottom face of the shank. F romthe foregoing description it will be understood that thetop boss has a rear face portion and the lower boss has a front portion which are substantially parallel to the respective top and bottom faces of the shank, while the front face portion of the top boss and the rear face portion of the lower boss are inclined and substantially parallel to one another. lVhen the coupler shank, the yoke and the draft key have been assembled, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 9, from which it will be understood that the rear portion of the top boss S'and the front portion of the lower boss 9 lie in close proximity'if not in actual contact with the faces of the respective bosses 1 on the yoke arms, while the beveled face portions of the bosses 8 and 9 incline away from the yoke arms, thereby giving the necessary clearance to permit vertical tilting of the coupler shank without binding upon the yoke which is practically held fixed against vertical tilting. The inclined bosses 8 and 9 may extend the full width of the coupler shank as in the liner block type of shank. In the present standard car construction, the carrier iron for the car coupler 1s arranged to permit a certain amount of lateral, vertical and twisting movements of the coupler. However, the draft gear follower plates hold the draft yoke more or less rigidly a ainst vertical and twisting movements. Kccording to the present invention the connection between the draft yoke and the coupler shank is flexible'in order that the coupler may move laterally and vertically and also twist upon its longitudinal axis without imposing undue strains on the yoke. To provide for lateral movement of the coupler shank,- the keyway through the shank is made wider than-the draft key, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 10 of the drawings. Vertical tilting of the coupler shank within the yoke is provided for by making the keyways in the yoke arms somewhat longer than the long diameter of the draft key, as shown in Figs. 5 and 9 of the drawings. Twisting of the coupler shank on' its longitudinal center is permitted by reason of the space between the draft key and the side walls of the keyway in the coupler shank, and also by reason of the spaces between the bosses 8 and 9 and the respective arms of the Voke. It

will be now understood that the bosses.

1 strains in a direct line with the yoke arms and also placing the draft key under direct shear instead of subjecting the key to bending strains.

The bosses 8 and 9 are therefore liner bosses, and while the inclined portions thereof permit upwardtilting of the coupler shank for a normal horizontal position. the rear portion of the upper boss and the forward portion of the lower boss prevent downward tilting of the coupler shank from its normal horizontal position.

According to present standards, the distance between the butt end of the coupler shank and the front carry iron is fourteen and one-half inches divided as follows: keyway four inches from butt end of conpler shank, keyway six inches long, and each wing of the draft yoke extending three inches in front of the keyway, making a total of thirteen inches, wherefore the draft gear may travel one and one-half inches forwardly from its normal position before the wings of the yoke are protruded beyond the rear of the striking plate and carry iron. Now the present invention requires no change in the length of fourteen andone-half inches between the butt end of the coupler shank and the front carry iron, but by a new arrangement of parts. a greater amount of travel is obtained for the draft gear. According to the present invention, the keyway 4 isfive inches long and is disposed three inches from the butt end of the shank, the arms of the yoke projecting three inches in front of the keyway, thereby making a total of eleven inches which will allow a forward travel of three and one-half inches for the draft gear from its normal position before reaching the front carry iron and striking plate. If still further travel is desired, it is quite apparent that this maybe accomplished by lengthening the coupler shank to the de sired extent.

The description of that part of the invention which goes to the coupler shank has been that of a shank having a vertical keyway only. By reference to Fig. 13 of the drawings, it will be seen that the invention I is also applicable to a shank having a horizontal keyway. In Fig. 13, which is a horizontal view, 10 designates the butt end of a standard "coupler shank having the usual horizontal keyway 11 and otherwise in accordance with coupler shank standards. The numeraL'T designates the keyway of the present invention, and it will be noted that the two keyways intersect, the present the same.

keyway 7 having its rear wall in rear of the rear wall of the horizontal keyway 11 and otherwise conforming to the description of the keyway 7 as hereinbefore set forth. As indicated by dotted lines, the bottom face of the shank is provided with a surrounding boss 9 identical with the boss 9 hereinbefore described. It will of course be understood that the top face of the coupler shank 1o is provided with a boss which is a duplicate of the boss 8 hereinbefore described. When provided with the two keyways. a coupler shank may be used in connection with the yoke of the present invention or with any standard yoke. The improvements may be added to the standard shank. at the time of casting the same. without requiring any change in the standard features thereof.

To prevent spreading of the arms of the yoke, there is provided a reinforcing band designated E formed from a single blank of sheet metal. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the blank is in the form of a rectangular strap of a length to embrace the yoke with its ends overlapped beneath the yoke as shown in Fig. 2. Slits or incisions are made in each end of the blank to define a rectangular wing 13 having an ear 1st projecting at the free edge of the wing. A slot or opening 15' is formed in the wing. 7 The blank is bent or folded along the dotted lines 16 to give the blank a substantially U-shape, and then the end portions of the blank are bent inwardly along the dotted lines 17 so as to overlap one another. That wing which is in that endportion of the blank which underlies the other end portion of the blank is bent down wardly. as shown in Fig. 2. at sul')stantiall v right angles to the bottom of the band. and the other wing is bent downwardly through the opening produced by the displacement of the first mentioned wing, whereby the ends of the band will be interlocked. and the band may be slipped over the open end of the yoke so as to embrace and reinforce The alined openings formed by the displacement of the wings' 13 are brought into alinement with the keyway r in the lower arm of the yoke, and said openings are of a size to permit of the upward insertion therethrough of the draft key A bolt 18 is passed through the alined openings 15 in the wings 13 so as to prevent spreading of the wings. and the ears 14 are bent to engage across the head of the bolt and the nut 19 respectively, thereby to prevent turning of the bolt and the nut. The free edge portions of each wing 13. at opposite sides of the ear 14 are bent inwardly to underlie and support the draft key C.

- as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. To

withdrawn and the wings 13 spread to the dotted positions, shown in- Fig. 2, so that the supporting lips 20 may clear the bottom of the key C and permit downward removal thereof. lVhile the bolt 18 serves as an additional support for the draft key C, the main support for the key is provided by the lips 20 which will support the key in place in the absence of the bolt 18 which might become lost or which, through neglect might not be put in place in the first instance.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the widened ends of the yoke support the sides of the band E spaced from the upright sides of the coupler shank so as to give proper clearance for the shank when swinging laterally. The beveled shape of the widened ends of the yoke gives ample support for the band E against collapse and at the same time economizes in metal.

A slightly modified form of reinforcing bandE is shown in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive. The blank of this band is substantially rectangular in shape and is provided at each end with incisions defining a rectangular wing 21, in which are incisions defining ears 22. The wings 21 are disposed in the manner explained for the wings 13, but the ears 22 are bent outwardly, as shown in Fig. 10, and a pin 23 is passed through alined openings formed by the displacement of the ears 22 and resting upon said ears as supports. These ears give additional wearing surface for the band and also for the key. As clearly indicated in Fig. 9 there are two such pins- 23. and the draft key C is supported upon said pins. The ends of the pins are bent slightly to prevent endwise displacement thereof. At each of the four corners of the band there are outstanding integral reinforcing fianges 24. Each front edge of the band is cut away or provided with a recess 25 so as to give the proper clearance for the lateralswing of a coupler shank.

By reason of the fact that the lower end portions of each reinforcing band E are overlapped and the overlapped portions are provided with alined openings in which the lower end of the draft key C is accommodated, it will be understood that the reinforcing band is interlocked with or connected to the yoke against movement in any direction thereon. The upper end of the draft key is accommodated in a depression 26 formed in the top of the band. If desired the band may also be welded to the arms of the yoke. hen-not welded to the yoke, the band may be conveniently removed, for any desired purpose, by removing the draft key C downwardly and drawing the coupler shank out of the yoke, whereupon the band is free to be removed from the yoke. On the other hand it is not necessary to remove the band when removing the coupler shank,

taper gradually from the front-to the rear of the shank, but there is a material decrease in the cross sectional area of the shank adjacent the horizontal draft keyway 11, which produces a disadvantage of an offsetin the lines of the coupler shank and an indirect pull on the arms of the yoke. These disadvantages are effectually overcome in the present shank as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 9 of the drawings, wherein it will be seen that the upright walls of the coupler shank extend in straight lines from the horn to the butt of the shank and the pull is in a direct line upon the yoke.

The coupler shank of the present invention is provided with a vertical keyway having outwardly extending liner bosses 8 and 9 at opposite ends thereof, and the shank extends in straight lines from the horn to the butt. The liner bosses 8 and 9 come into close proximity with the inner faces of the yoke arms, thus bringing the draft key C under direct shear and the pull in a direct line with the straps of the yoke. Moreover these external liner bosses obviate the necessity for the present internal enlargements to strengthen the coupler shank and by omitting such internal enlargements, ample room is provided within the shank for molding cores and core rods, while at the same time the strength ofthe shank is increased at the keyway. By the use of these liner bosses 8 and 9 I am enabled to carry the keyway rearwardly and retain the necessary strength of the shank at the keyway part thereof. In certain types of coupler shanks it has been customary to increase the size of the butt of the coupler to correspond to the size of the draft gear, and in some instances a vertical draft key has been used with enlarged butt, but this enlargement has been merely to bring the coupler butt in line with the draft gear and not for the purpose of increasing the strength of the shank, in fact, the opposite was the case, as the lines of the shank were abruptly changed to produce the enlargement or liner block, and coupler shanks of this type would fail, in many instances at the junction between the enlargement, or liner block and the shank portion adjacent thereto, when subjected to destruction tests.

In Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings I have shown a coupler shank of the well known liner block type connected to an ordinary Ll-shaped yoke by the connection of the present invention, the reinforcing band E being of the plain form shown in Fig. 3.

In connection with the band feature of the present invention, it will be noted that the overlapped portions of the band are interlocked so as to prevent spreading thereof. The band not only .prevents spreading of the yoke arms, but also supports and retains the draft key against displacement.

The draft key not only connects the coupler shank to the yoke, but it also passes through alined openings in the bottom overlapped portions of the band and thereby prevents spreading of the band. Moreover the draft key retains the band in place on the yoke.-

It will be noted that the band and the key are separable, and together formmeans for maintaining themselves in place independ ent of-the' coupler shank. The band embraces the butt end only of the coupler shank,

and functions independently of the shank.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a yoke, a coupler shank, and a vertical draft key extending through the arms of the yoke and the shank, said shank being provided with external liner bosses around the ends of the keyway through the shank, the front portion of the upper boss being inclined downwardly and forwardly, and the rear portion of the lower boss being inclined upwardly and rearwardly, the remaining portions of the liner bosses lying in close proximity to the inner faces of the arms of the oke.

2. A car coupler shan having a vertical keyway provided with outstanding liner bosses surrounding the ends of the keyway, the rear portion of the upper boss and the forward portion of the lower boss being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shank, and the front portion of the upper boss being inclined downwardly and forwardly, and the rear portion of the lower boss being inclined upwardly and rearwardly.

3. The combination of a draft gear yoke, a car coupler shank, a vertical draft key extending through the shank and the arms of the yoke and forming the sole pulling connection between the coupler shank and the yoke, and a reinforcing band embracing the yoke and the coupler shank, said band being formed from a blank having its ends overlapped and said overlapped ends having alined openings receiving one end of the draft key.

4. The combination'of a draft gear yoke, a car coupler shank, a draft key extending through the shank and the arms of the yoke, and a reinforcing band embracing the yoke and the coupler shank, said band being formed from a blank'having its ends overwings receivin lapped and said overlapped ends having alined openings receiving one end of the draft key, and said reinforcing band being provided with a seat receiving the opposite end of the draft key.

5. The combination of a draft gear yoke, a car coupler shank, a draft key extending through the shank and the arm of the yoke, and a reinforcing band embracing the yoke and the coupler shank, said band being formed from a blank having its ends overlapped, the overlapped ends having depending wings struck therefrom, the openings in the band produced by the formation of the one end of the draft key, one of the wlngs extending downwardly through the opening in the other end of the band.

6. The combination of a draft gear yoke, a car coupler shank, a draft key extending through the shank and the arms of the yoke, and a reinforcing band embracing the yoke and the coupler shank, said band being formed from a blank having its ends overlapped, the overlapped ends having depending wings struck therefrom, the openings in the band produced by the formation of the wings receiving one end of .the draft key, one of the wings extending downwardly through the opening in the other end of the band, and a support forthe draft key including the depending wings.

7. The combination of a car coupler shank, a yoke, the shank being freely insertible and removable endwise through the open end of the yoke, a key forming the sole pulling connection between the yoke and shank, and a metal strap bent around the yoke transversely thereof in rear of the front end of the yoke and forming a band to prevent spreading of the arms of the yoke, the ends of the strap being lapped beneath the yoke and the lapped portions of the strap havingalined openings receiving one end of the key to hold the band a ainst movement longitudinally upon the yo e.

8. A car coupler shank having substantially similar intersecting draft keyways to permit interchangeable use of the shank with yokes having vertical or horizontal keyways, each keyway being substantially elliptical in cross-section.

9. A carcoupler shank provided with substantially similar draft keyways disposed at substantially right angles to one another, and a draft key for interchangeable engagement with the keyways, whereby the shank may be interchangeably used with draft yokes having vertical or hori- Zontal keyways.

10. The combination of a car coupler shank, a yoke embracing the shank, the yoke and shank having keyways, a vertical draft key extending through the keyways of the yoke and shank and forming the sole pull- 1ng connection between the yoke and shank,

the keyways in the arms of the yoke being longer than the major diameter of the key, 5 and the shank and yoke arms being spaced to permit vertical tilting of the coupler shank within the yoke.

11. The combination of a car coupler shank, a yoke embracing the shank, the yoke and shank having keyways, a draft key extending through the keyways of the yoke and shank and forming sole pulling connection between the yoke and shank, the keyway in the coupler shank being wider in a direction transversely of the shank than the key, and there being spaces between the top and bottom of the coupler shank and the respective arms of the yoke, whereby the shank may twist upon its longitudinal axis within the yoke.

12. The combination of a draft gear yoke, a car coupler shank, a draft key extending through the shank and the arms of the yoke, a reinforcing band embracing the yoke and the coupler shank, said band being formed from a blank having its ends overlapped, the overlapped ends having depending wings struck therefrom,.the opening in the band produced by the formation of the wings receiving one end of the draft key, one of the wings extending downwardly through the opening in the other end of the band, ears bent from the wings, and a pin resting upon the ears and extending through the openings formed by the production of the ears and also supporting the draft key.

13. The combination of a draft gear yoke, a car coupler shank, a draft key extending through the shank and the arms of the yoke, a reinforcing band embracing the yoke and the coupler shank and having depending wings at opposite sides of the lower end of the draft key, the wings having ears struck therefrom, and a pin resting upon the ears and passing through the openings produced by the formation of the ears and supporting the draft key.

14. The combination of a draft yoke, a coupler shank, and a vertical draft key, the yoke and shank having keyways receiving the draft key, the keyways of the yoke and the draft key and the coupler butt and the inner faces of the yoke being spaced with respect to one another to permit vertical angling or tilting of the shank within and independent of the yoke to impart flexibility to l:he connection between the shank and the yo e.

15. The combination of a draft yoke, a coupler shank, and a vertical draft key, the yoke and shank having keyways receiving the key, the coupler butt and the inner faces of the yoke and the key and keyways of the shank being spaced with respect to one another to permit torsional movement of the shank on its longitudinal axis independently of the yoke to impart flexibility to the connection between the shank and the yoke.

16. The combination of a draft rigging yoke, a coupler shank, and a vertical draft key, said parts being spaced to permit vertical and horizontal angling of the shank within the yoke and also to permit twisting of the shank around its longitudinal axis independently of the yoke to impart flexibility to the connection between. the shank and the oke. 3 17. The combination of a draft yoke, a coupler shank therein, the arms of the yoke and the shank having vertically alined keyways, -and a draft key extending through the keyways, the yoke, the shank and the draft key being spaced to permit vertical angling of the shank within the yoke, and

the bottom of the butt end of the shank and the top face of the lower arm of the yoke having a relative configuration to accommodate the butt end of the shank during vertical angling.

18. The combination of a draft yoke, a coupler shank, and a vertical draft key, the shank and yoke having keyways receiving the key, the keyways and the draft key and the coupler butt and the inner faces of the yoke being spaced with respect to one another to permit vertical and horizontal angling of the shank withln and independent of the yoke to impart flexibility to the connection between the shank and yoke.

19. The combination of a draft yoke, a

coupler shank therein, a vertical draft key of the M. C. B. type, the yoke and the shank having alined vertical keyways receiving the key which is insertible from below, the draft key being spaced with respect to the keyways in one of the other elements to permit angling of the shank independently of the yoke, and means underlying and independent of the draft key to prevent downward displacement of the key.

20. The combination of a draft yoke, a coupler shank therein, a vertical draft key of the M. C. B. type, the yoke and the shank having alined vertical keyways receiving the key which is insertible from below, the keyways in the yoke being longer than the major diameter of the key, the key being held against'vertical angling in the shank by the front and rear walls of the keyway in said shank, the shank and the yoke arms being spaced to permit vertical angling of the shank, and means underlying and independ- -ent of the draft key to prevent downward displacement of the key.

21. The combination of a draft yoke, a coupler shank therein, a vertical draft key of the M. C. B. type, the yoke arms and the shank having alined vertical keyways receiving the key which is insertible from below, the key being held against horizontal angling by the side wallsof the keyways in the yoke arms, the side walls of the keyway in the shank being spaced from the side walls of the key to permit horizontal angling of the shank on the key, and means underlying and independent of the draft key to prevent downward displacement of the key.

22. The combination of a draft yoke, a coupler shank therein, a "ertical draft key of the M. C. B. type, the yoke arms and the shank having alined vertical keyways receiving the key which is insertible from belo\v,.the keyways in the yoke being longer than the major diameter of the key, the key being held against vertical angling in the shank by the ront and rear Walls of the keyway in the shank, the shank and the yoke arms being spaced to permit vertical angling of the shank, the key being held against horizontal angling by the side walls of the keyways in the yoke arms, the side walls of the keyway in the shank being spaced from the side walls of the key to permit horizontal angling of the shank on the key, and means underlying and independent of the draft key to prevent downward displacement of the ke 53. The combination of a draft yoke, a coupler shank therein, a vertical draft key of the M. C. B. type, the yoke and the shank having alined vertical keyways receiving the key which is insertible from below, the key- Ways in the yoke being longer than the major diameter of the key, the shank and the yoke arms being spaced to permit vertical angling of the shank, and means underlying and independent of the draft key to prevent downward displacement of the key.

24. The combination of a draft yoke, a coupler shank therein, a vertical draft key of the M. C. B. type, the yoke arms and the shank having alined vertical keyways receiving the key which is insertible from below, the side walls of the keyway in the shank being spaced from the side walls of the key. to permit horizontal angling of the shank on the key, and means underlying and independent of the draft key to prevent downward displacement of the .key.

25. The combination of a draft yoke, a coupler shank therein, a vertical draft key of the M. C. B. type, the yoke arms and the shank having alined vertical keyways receiving the key which is insertible from below, the keyways in the yoke being longer than the major diameter of the key, the shank and the yoke arms being spaced to permit vertical angling of the shank, the side Walls of the keyway in the shank being spaced from the side walls of the key to per mit horizontal angling of the shank on the key, and means underlying and independent of the draft key to prevent'downward displacement of the key.

' ROBERT E. L. JANNEY. 

